Carroll: Multiple scenarios on Harvin’s availability this season

Originally published July 27, 2013 at 7:51 pm
Updated July 27, 2013 at 10:01 pm

RENTON — Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was quoted by USA Today on Friday saying receiver Percy Harvin could be out for the season if surgery is needed on his ailing hip.

Saturday, though, when Carroll met with local reporters after practice, he said that’s only one of many possible scenarios, and that he remains hopeful Harvin will be available for most, if not all, of the season.

Carroll gave a wide-ranging answer when asked what is the latest with Harvin, who will get a second opinion on the injury when he meets with Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York on Tuesday.

“He is going to get a second opinion and there is a whole array of situations,’’ Carroll said of Harvin, for whom Seattle traded away three picks to Minnesota to acquire and then signed to a six-year contract worth as much as $67 million. “We have to wait and see. It’s everything that he might be able to come back here in a couple of weeks and be ready to go or there could be some procedure that needs to take place and there are a number of different ways that could happen and the length of the recovery depends on what has to take place.

“It’s uncertain right now but we for sure are going to take our time, be very patient, let the docs look at it, make sure everybody has got their two cents on it and know exactly where it sits and then we’ll see what the next step holds and we don’t know that right now. It’s just something that we have to wait on and make sure.’’

Harvin came to Seattle with a reputation for lingering injuries — he played just nine games last season due to ankle issues.

Carroll, though, said the last thing Harvin wants right now is to be missing practice.

“He’s really frustrated,’’ Carroll said. “He wants to play so bad. He wants to be on the field. It’s killing him not to be out there, but we just have to be really smart about it and because it is so early we have a lot of time. We are going to utilize that.’’

Carroll also elaborated on the timeline of the injury, saying Harvin had been fine during some informal workouts with teammates before camp but that “when he reported he just felt really sore. He had some soreness in his hip. So we had to go take another look and start digging at the information and it showed there is something to work on and something we need to work through to figure out how it works.’’

Asked directly if any surgery would cost Harvin the season, Carroll said: “It wouldn’t necessarily be season ending. That’s one of the scenarios it could be but the likelihood of getting back just depends on what they have to do. So like I said there are a whole array of different circumstances. Some guys make it right back and some guys take longer so that’s a possibility. But we are hoping that’s not the probability. We are thinking it’s going to be better than that.’’

Carroll also noted Seattle safety Kam Chancellor played through a similar injury last season.

“Kam Chancellor made it through and he’s OK,’’ Carroll said. “So we know that there is a chance that it could be all right. So we just have to keep our fingers crossed. We are pretty optimistically minded around here and try to take as much time as we need to make a really good decision to take care of him the best way possible.’’

Harvin again watched practice Saturday but has not talked to the media.

The Seahawks claimed outside linebacker O’Brien Schofield off waivers from the Cardinals on Saturday.

Schofield started nine games for the Cardinals last season before suffering an ankle injury, making 34 tackles and four sacks. The 6-foot-3, 242-pounder from Wisconsin has made 83 tackles and 10½ sacks in three seasons and will likely add to the competition at the outside linebacker and rush end spots.

To make room on the 90-man camp roster, the Seahawks released rookie offensive tackle Jake Bscherer.

Notes

• Fullback Michael Robinson missed his second straight practice. Carroll said Robinson woke up after Thursday’s first practice and had a sore ankle.

• Also out is linebacker Heath Farwell. Carroll said Farwell suffered back spasms after the first day but should be back in a day or so.